So I am nearing the end of a project that I hope may be of interest to some of you out there. I am a professional musician, and just over a year ago, after reading Canadian author Ami McKay's novel "The Birth House" that it would be a fun and interesting idea to create a concept album inspired by the characters, themes, and landscape of this story. I know that book-inspired albums have been released in the past, but this album was meant to follow the story arc, and ultimately be a companion to the story, while also retaining universality in the themes, allowing the songs to stand on their own.

So, along with my S.O., we decided to begin writing and over the course of the next year wrote and recorded 13 original songs that make up the album "Creation." Our band name is Arosa Star, and production on our album will be finishing in the next month or so. To make a long story short we visited Ami McKay, who lives on the east coast of Canada, and brought her a demo of the album this past summer. She loved the idea and the songs, and we are now working towards continuing this collaboration. To read about the story of our visit, check out her blog at www.amimckay.com.

If you are curious for more info about the project or to hear some music, we have a website at www.arosastar.com. I am genuinely curious to hear what the literary community thinks of this concept.